While we talk about the many stumbling blocks the Raiders have faced in their efforts to get a new stadium built, the one lingering issue is the A's and their owner, Lew Wolff. Their mascot looking ever more symbolic of the elephant in the room that could squash any plans the Raiders and the city and county attempt to put in place.
For some time now the A's have made efforts to leave Oakland. But when it became obvious that wasn't going to happen, they decided to sign a new 10-year deal with the coliseum and ostensibly squat on it, hindering the Raiders' efforts to build a new stadium on the current site.